It’s been a while since we updated you on the work that we’ve been doing on the Repair Directory. But if you’ve been paying attention to the map, you couldn’t have helped but notice that there’s been a repair business explosion.
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been expanding the directory to cover 8 new boroughs. This work was funded by West London Waste Authority (WLWA), by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It was match-funded by our participation in the Sharepair project. Thanks to this project, we’ve been able to log and learn about many brilliant repair businesses in Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond Upon Thames.
During this project, we’ve managed to add 147 businesses across these boroughs. We’re excited that residents across almost all of London should now be able to find a place to get their stuff fixed. Here’s a before and after of the directory’s makeover, looks great doesn’t it?
Why we do this
The directory now features over 300 businesses that repair everything from smartphones to lawnmowers to electric guitars. It’s been lovely becoming more acquainted with the professional repair community in London, and meeting more businesses through our research. The aims of the Repair Directory are two-fold. Firstly, we want to champion the brilliant repair businesses in London. And secondly, we want people to have a reliable repair business at their fingertips when something breaks. We’re proud to support so many wonderful independent businesses and our campaign for the Right to Repair will ensure that repair work is not only possible but thriving.
What’s next
We plan to expand the directory further, and hope that more waste authorities and local councils will support us in these efforts. We’re currently working on creating a dedicated microsite to house the directory and make searches even easier. Here we hope to host other content like, repair business profiles. We’re delighted to have been approached by organisations outside of London who are interested in starting repair directories of their own!
As always, we are accepting submissions from businesses themselves or members of the public who want to recognise their favourite local repair shops. If you know a business that you think deserves to be included in the directory, submit it on this page.
We would also love to start working more closely with repair businesses on other projects. One aspect of this is campaigning. Through our research, we found that many businesses are aware of or promote the environmental benefits of repairing. One of the main ways that you can support the Right to Repair is by signing our petition so that we can show the UK government just how popular the movement is. If you are a business owner who would like to learn more, please get in contact!
We also have exciting opportunities accompanying our Fixing Factory project. This summer, in partnership with Mer-IT, we will be running training courses for budding repairers. If your business would be interested in hosting young apprentices who have completed this training, please let us know! You can visit this page to register your interest.